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DC Talk is a Grammy-winning Christian music trio. The group formed in Lynchburg, Virginia around 1988, consisting of Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk (1989), Nu Thang (1990), Free at Last (1992), Jesus Freak (1995), and Supernatural (1998). The group is considered by many to be the most popular Christian act of all time.

In 2000, the group released an EP titled Solo which contained two solo songs from each member. Since that time, DC Talk has been on an indefinite hiatus, and the three band members have each led solo careers. They have performed and recorded individual songs together several times during the 2000s, although the group never officially reunited.

The group’s musical style evolved significantly throughout their career. Their first two releases, DC Talk and Nu Thang, were of the rap/hip hop genre. DC Talk’s third album, Free at Last, also mainly took influence from the hip hop style, although their music began taking on a rock sound. The trio’s last two albums, Jesus Freak and Supernatural, were predominantly pop rock.

Formation

“DC Talk” was a nickname that Toby Michael McKeehan, later “TobyMac”, (1964- ), who was born in Falls Church, Virginia, was given for being from the Washington D.C., area.While attending Liberty University, McKeehan met Michael DeWayne Tait (1966- ), and the two began to perform together. Tait had been featured singing on Jerry Falwell’s The Old Time Gospel Hour and recorded with the Falwell Singers. He also performed solo, what TobyMac later described his “kind of an R&B / church-oriented music.”

The two joined forces to record a song that McKeehan had written, “Heavenbound”. They performed the song before an audience of 8,000 Liberty students with McKeehan rapping and Tait singing the chorus. The song was well received, selling out the approximately 3,000 copies of their demo tape, Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm. The tape included “Heavenbound” and was distributed by the group in the Washington D.C. area. The group’s demo tape eventually led to a recording contract with Forefront Records in 1988. Kevin Max Smith, later “Kevin Max”, (1967- ) came from a campus rock band to join the group, and the trio called themselves “DC Talk and the One Way Crew”. The name was later simplified to “DC Talk”, which came to stand for “decent Christian talk”.

Group members

Toby McKeehan

Michael Tait

Kevin Max

Band

Jason Halbert – keyboard, organ

Otto Price – bass

Mark Townsend – guitar

Brent Barcus – guitar

Will Denton – drums

Marvin Sims – percussion

GRITS – Choreography

Discography

Studio Albums

1988: Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm (independent)

1989: DC Talk (Forefront)

1990: Nu Thang (Forefront)

1992: Free at Last (Forefront)

1995: Jesus Freak (Forefront)

1998: Supernatural (Virgin)

2000: Intermission (Virgin)

2001: Solo (Forefront)

Bibliography

Jesus Freaks (1999)

Live Like a Jesus Freak (2001)

Jesus Freaks Volume II: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World Fearing God, Not Man (2002)

Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries (2005)

Jesus Freaks: Martyrs (2005)

Awards

Grammy Awards

1994: Free at Last – Best Rock Gospel Album

1997: Jesus Freak – Best Rock Gospel Album

1998: Welcome to the Freak Show – Best Rock Gospel Album

2002: Solo – Best Rock Gospel Album

GMA Dove Awards

1991: Nu Thang – Rap/Hip-Hop album of the Year

1992: “I Luv Rap Music” – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year

1992: Rap, Rock & Soul – Long Form Music Video of the Year

1993: “Can I Get a Witness?” – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year

1994: “Jesus Is Just Alright” – Rock Recorded Song of the Year

1994: “Socially Acceptable” – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year

1995: “Luv Is a Verb” – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year

1996: Artist of the Year

1996: “Jesus Freak” – Rock Recorded Song of the Year

1996: “Jesus Freak” – Song of the Year

1997: “Between You and Me” – Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year